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A man has been arrested as a possible suspect in two recent attacks on the statue of late rap legend Tupac Shakur. The attacks have been described by the artist’s mother, Afeni Shakur, and officials at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts as “hate crimes” although Georgia police deny it is.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, a spokeswoman for the center, Versa Manos, sent a news release describing a series of vandalism events that happened Saturday and Monday. The release said the attacks included a “noose” that was tied around the neck of Shakur’s statue.

“Hate comes in all colors and genders therefore we will use this act of hate and ignorance to bring our community together and to pray for the healing of those who harbor such feelings,” Shakur’s mother said.

DeKalb County police spokesman Marcus Hodge denied it saying it was not a noose around Shakur’s neck, “but rather an orange nylon string with a wooden cross attached.”

Underwear was also put on the head of the statue, and stickers, allegedly of crosses, had been placed on the statue and on nearby walls.

The incidents are not being investigated as hate crimes.

A 37-year-old man found on the property was arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness and trespassing. He told authorities he was there “because he wanted to talk to Tupac.”

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The soundtrack to what will undoubtedly be an Oscar contender, American Gangster, primarily consists of classic blues, R&B, and soul. The film, which features Denzel Washington, hits theaters November 2 but right now you can check out the lead single by Anthony Hamilton. The soundtrack drops Nov. 2.

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In celebration of their 50th anniversary, Stax Records is offering a trilogy of DVD’s which documents some of the legendary label’s most influential artists and provides a timeline of Stax Records.

“Dreams to Remember : The Legacy Of Otis Redding” DVD, features performances, re-mastered sound and video as well as in-depth interviews, while “Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story” is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and gives us a behind the scenes look into the lives of the likes of Issac Hayes, Brooker T. Jones, Steve Cooper and many more. Finally, the “Stax/ Volt Revue-live in Norway 1967″ is the first-ever official release of the historic concert it is named after. Below you can check out a stream of “Respect Yourself.”

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Fiending for new Lupe Fiasco? Wait no more. Here is the official lead single “Superstar” ft. Matthew Santos off the upcoming conceptual sophomore album The Cool.

Due for a Dec. 18th release the set is a spin-off of sorts of his debut which introduced a character called Cool. This time around there are three new characters: Michael Young History (The Cool before his death), The Game (a male personification of a hustler’s damaging influences), and The Streets (a female embodiment of an urban area’s corrupt allure).

Rather than centering around fictitious characters, “Superstar” is about Fiasco’s own rise to fame and all the internal drama surrounding it.

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Fans can watch a live stream of celebrity arrivals and red carpet action for tonight’s premiere of the Denzel Washington starrer American Gangster starting at 7:00PM-EST on the film’s official website, www.americangangster.net.

The premiere for the highly anticipated flick scheduled to be released Nov. 2 will take place at the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, U.S.A.

The movie, based on real life gangster Frank Lucas, has been described as a “Black Sopranos.” The star-studded premiere will see Washington joined on the red carpet by fellow cast members RZA, Common, Russell Crowe, Cuba Gooding, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Melissia Hill, Ruby Dee and many, many more.

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Nas who recently announced plans to name his upcoming album Ni**a, only to be shot down by Def Jam, recently spoke to MTV about the controversy the title caused.

“I’m a street disciple,” he said. “I’m talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain’t got no business worrying about what the word ‘nigger’ is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me. Whether you in the NAACP or you Jesse Jackson. I respect all of them … I just want them to know: Never fall victim to Fox. Never fall victim to the sh– they do. What they do is try to hurry up and get you on the phone and try to get you to talk about something you might not know about yet.”

He went on to say:

“If Cornell West was making an album called Nigger, they would know he’s got something intellectual to say. To think I’m gonna say something that’s not intellectual is calling me a nigger, and to be called a nigger by Jesse Jackson and the NAACP is counterproductive, counter-revolutionary.

“We’re taking power from the word,” he added. “No disrespect to none of them who were part of the civil-rights movement, but some of my n—as in the streets don’t know who [civil-rights activist] Medgar Evers was. I love Medgar Evers, but some of the n—as in the streets don’t know Medgar Evers, they know who Nas is. And to my older people who don’t now who Nas is and who don’t know what a street disciple is, stay outta this mutha—-in’ conversation. We’ll talk to you when we’re ready. Right now, we’re on a whole new movement. We’re taking power from that word.”